PATNA: An FIR has been filed following issuing a domicile certificate to a dog under Bihar’s Right to Public Service (RTPS) portal, sparking administrative embarrassment and prompting a full-fledged investigation. The certificate, addressed to “Dog Babu,” son of “Kutta Babu” and “Kutiya Devi,” was issued on July 24 in Patna’s Masaurhi region and cancelled within two minutes of being generated.
Rapid Action After Document Surfaces
Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan SM confirmed that the FIR was registered against the applicant, the computer operator, and the officer who issued the certificate. “Departmental and disciplinary action will be taken against the guilty employees and officers,” he stated, adding that the sub-divisional officer of Masaurhi has been instructed to submit a report within 24 hours.
According to officials, the application was submitted on July 15 and processed through the RTPS portal, a platform meant for streamlining access to essential government services like residence certificates. Revenue Officer Murari Chauhan digitally signed the certificate.
While the certificate was swiftly cancelled, the incident raised concerns about the integrity of the online certification process and the potential misuse of government systems.
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Probe Points to Identity Misuse and Digital Forgery
Preliminary investigations suggest that the supporting documents attached to the application belonged to a woman from Delhi. Prabhat Ranjan, the circle officer at Masaurhi, remarked, “This is not a joke but a serious case of tampering with the government’s system and documents. It will be probed how the revenue officer’s dongle was misused.”
Authorities are working with the cyber police station to trace the digital footprint of the submission. “The process to suspend the officials involved is underway,” said Thiyagarajan. He noted that efforts are being made to identify the origin and motive behind the fraudulent application.
The incident has triggered criticism from various quarters. Activist Yogendra Yadav highlighted that such documents are being used for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, underscoring the seriousness of the lapse.
Officials also referenced a similar incident from Munger, where a residence certificate was once issued in the name of a ‘Sonalika tractor’, pointing to recurring vulnerabilities in the digital system.